The contractor says that the leak in the wall started at least 2 years ago, judging by the condition of the drywall and the amount of mold in the closet that the bathroom backs up to! We haven't been in that closet in ages, it's full of boxes that we never look at, or at least it was. Black mold 2 inches thick or more is all that's left of the bottoms of the lowest boxes. The tile in the bathroom was strong enough that we never knew there was a leak until the day that it got worse and I could hear it behind the wall. That was the day the carpet in the bedroom got wet. That was 5 weeks ago, the mold is now gone, the bathroom is now nearly repaired, and I'm out $9,000! All because of a leak that might have cost $500 to fix if I had caught it 2 years ago... That $9,000 includes two devices. A $200 whole house water monitor, and a $50 leak detector. Because if this ever happens again, I don't want to wait 2 years to find out! It also includes extra tile in case it happens again and I do catch it early!
The water meter on the whole house is nice, but it won't tell me where the leak is, and it won't tell me the minute it happens (it'll alert me after 2 hours, and then I'll think it's a fluke and silence the alarm, and then at 4 hours it'll go off again and I'll start looking around but see nothing if it's in the wall). So I'm drilling a small hole in the wall of the closet that connects to the bathroom, and pushing this cable in so that it lies on the ground under the pipes that might one day leak. If this goes off, I will immediately pull down the drywall and look. A false alarm will cost an hour putting the drywall back up, but that's a small price to pay if a real alarm will save me $9,000!!!
After receiving the first one, setting it up, testing it, and deciding it's worthwhile; I will now be buying these for the kitchen, the other bathroom, and the laundry room. Better safe than sorry!!! I'll spread the purchases out, maybe one a month so I don't have to pay another $150 right now. If you're wondering whether $50 is worth it, the answer is an emphatic YES!!!
BTW, the whole house meter I installed is the Fluke water monitor. I also highly recommend that $200 investment!!
| Number of Batteries | AA batteries required. |
|---|---|
| Voltage | 120 Volts |
| Control Method | App |
| Noise Level | 65 dB |
| Manufacturer | Resideo |
| Part Number | RCHW3610WF1001/N |
| Item Weight | 4.8 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 1.26 x 3.07 x 3.07 inches |
| Item model number | RCHW3610WF1001/N |
| Batteries | AA batteries required. |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | 1.2 |
| Style | Detector |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Type of Bulb | LED lights |
| Number Of Holes | 32 |
| Special Features | Alarm Sensor Type Floor, Number of Sensors Included 1, Indoor/Outdoor Indoor, Surveillance Features Audio Alert/Siren,WiFi Enabled, Battery Back-Up Yes, Sensor Type Water |
| Included Components | Wi-Fi Water Leak Detector |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | Yes |
| Battery Cell Type | Alkaline |
| Description Pile | AA |
| Average Battery Life | 1095 days |
